Allen David Binford

Haviland - Allen D. Binford, 96, of Haviland, Kansas, slipped away into the arms of Jesus on June 20, 2025, at Home Again in Haviland, finishing a full life of faithfulness to his family, and his faith. A memorial service will be held Sunday, July 6, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at the Haviland Friends Church.

Allen was born May 25, 1929, to the farm family of Ernest and Myrtle (Ross) Binford in Haviland, the third of 5 children. He attended school in Haviland and graduated from Friends Haviland Academy. While there he met Mary McNichols, and they were married at Northbranch Friends Church in Burr Oak, Kansas, on September 1, 1949. After their marriage Allen and Mary ran a dairy near Haviland for nearly 30 years while also farming until retirement.

Allen and Mary were blessed with three daughters; Sharon (1951), Carolyn (1952), and Shirley (1954). They were followed by two sons, Randall (1957) and Charles (1961).

Allen enjoyed being active, fishing, singing, playing with his children, teaching boys’ Sunday School class, and driving his dune buggy. He loved people, won the hearts of his grandchildren with colored marshmallows, and had a great sense of humor. He was ever a farmer at heart, and loved what the soil produced. His children recall that it was not a big deal if something broke around the house because dad could fix it. His family has many fond memories of camping trips and family gatherings. He and Mary enjoyed entertaining family and friends in their home. He is loved and honored by his family as a godly patriarch, and will be greatly missed.

Allen anchored his life in the Bible and his personal relationship with Christ. He faithfully lived by his convictions, putting his faith on display through his love for service to his community and church, his love for his family, his love and loyalty to his wife, and his compassion for others. He served on the boards of Haviland Friends Church, the Haviland COOP, the Christian Education board of mid-America Yearly Meeting of Friends, and Barclay College and was a longtime supporter of Barclay College and its vision. He was a generous giver.

After retiring from the farm Allen and Mary enjoyed annual trips to their winter home in Yuma, Arizona. They were passionate about connecting with longtime friends and family who also gathered in Yuma for the winter while putting miles and miles on their dune buggy.

Allen was a loyal husband especially during Mary’s five-year illness with Parkinson’s and dementia. He was daily at her side serving her and other patients. His example was an unmistakable demonstration of his marriage covenant to Mary. Mary passed away February 2, 2010, after 61 years of sharing life together.

Later Allen began a friendship with Barbara (Plank, Hecht) Smitherman and that friendship, a great comfort to him, led to romance, and he and Barbara were married April 3, 2013.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ernest and Myrtle (Ross) Binford, his brother Cecil and wife Lois (Gossard), his sister Leona Miller and husband Clyde, his wife, Mary, daughter, Shirley Mendenhall, and son-in-law Curt Kunzman.

Allen is survived by his wife Barbara and family, his daughters Sharon Kunzman of Woodward, Oklahoma, and Carolyn Frazier (Royce) of Haviland, son-in-law Larry Mendenhall, of Corona, California, sons Randy (Jana ) of Haviland, and Charles (Ruth) of Wichita Kansas, and twin siblings brother Paul Binford, sister Pauline Busby, both of Kansas, 14 grandchildren, 46 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren, numerous other family members and numberless friends. Memorial gifts can be directed to Barclay College and/or Haviland Friends Church, in care of Fleener Funeral Home, PO Box 41, Greensburg, KS 67054-0041.